a broad and thin spoon-shaped stigmatic lamina which usually curves over the stamens. Capsule globular or ovoid, included in the persistent calyx, loculicidally 2-valved; valves entire, separating from a central placentiferous axis. Seeds small, ovoid.
In addition to the two species found in New Zealand, one of which extends to Australia, there are two others in Australia, one of them found also in tropical Asia and Africa.
| Forming broad matted patches. Leaves ⅛–¼ in., linear obovate. Flowers 110–18 in. diam. Stamens 4 | 1. G. elatinoides. |
| Minute, very slender, matted. Leaves 112–15 in., linear or narrow linear-spathulate. Flowers very minute, 120 in. diam. Stamens 2 | 2. G. submersum. |
1. G. elatinoides, Benth. in Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 189.—A small creeping intricately branched moss-like plant, forming dense matted patches 2–6 in. across or more; stems slender, rooting at the nodes, rarely suberect at the tips. Leaves opposite, ⅛–¼ in. long, linear-spathulate or linear-obovate, obtuse, gradually narrowed into a petiole equalling the blade. Peduncle at first shorter than the leaves, but often elongating after flowering. Flowers minute, 110–18 in. diam., white. Calyx with 4 short obtuse lobes. Corolla-tube shorter than the calyx; lobes rounded, obtuse, fringed with minute cilia. Stamens 4, included. Style short; stigma very large, spoon-shaped, irritable. Capsule small, ovoid-globose.—Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 203; Benth. Fl. Austral. iv. 502. Tricholoma elatinoides, Benth. in D.C. Prodr. x. 426. Lobelia submersa, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 424.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: Abundant in lakes and marshes from the North Cape southwards, often entirely submerged. Sea-level to 2500 ft. November–February.
Also found in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. For an account of the fertilisation, see a paper by myself in Trans. N.Z. Inst. x. 353.
2. G. submersum, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiii. (1891) 401.—A minute very slender intricately branched plant, forming small but dense matted patches; stems creeping and rooting at the nodes. Leaves opposite or fascicled, 112–14 in. long, linear or narrow linear-spathulate, quite entire, gradually narrowed into a petiole equalling the blade or rather shorter than it. Peduncles slender, axillary, about as long as the leaves. Flowers very minute, 120 in diam. Calyx obtusely 3-lobed. Corolla small, not much longer than the calyx; lobes short, rounded. Stamens 2, included. Capsule not exceeding the calyx, globose, 115 in. diam.
South Island: Otago—Tidal shores of Lake Waihola, usually submerged at high water, Petrie!
A very curious little plant, apparently closely allied to the Queensland G. spathulatum, Arn., but my flowering specimens are insufficient for a proper comparison.
